Hitching-apparatus

Abstract

There is provided hitching apparatus including a mounting means (10) including a base plate portion (11) supporting integrally formed struts (12) to which is fabricated an upper mounting socket (13). The base plate portion (11) is secured to the goose-neck of a vehicle by means of the threaded stud and nut of a conventional tow ball. The mounting socket (13) is adapted to receive the tongue portion (17) of a guide assembly including a pair of guide plates (21) which in use diverge from their mounting portion (20) to extend rearward and outward of the tow-ball. Reversing the vehicle to the hitch of the trailer with the hitching assembly installed results in either the hitch directly contacting the mounting portion (20) or engagement of the hitching portion with either of the guide plates (21) whereupon the hitching portion is guided to the mounting portion (20).

We claim: 
     
       1. A hitching apparatus comprising a base member configured to be mounted on the underside of a gooseneck of a conventional vehicle ball hitch assembly with the aid of the hitch ball mounting stud, and guide means comprising a pair of divergent guide portions symmetrically disposed about the hitch centerline and adapted to urge a towing hitch impinging thereon towards the hitch ball, and a stop portion truncating said guide portions and cooperating therewith to locate said towing hitch substantially over said hitch ball, said base member having integrally formed therewith a pair of struts, each of said struts interconnected at a respective upper end with a guide means mounting portion located forward of said hitch ball having a slot extending transversely of said centerline and adapted to receive a tongue, said tongue formed by downward extension of the stop portion of said guide means, whereby said guide means is removably mountable on said base member. 
     
     
       2. The hitching apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said guide portion comprises a pair of substantially rigid arms disposed substantially symmetric about the vehicle centerline, each of said arms defined by a planar guide surface that extends rearwardly away from said stop portion and said vehicle and outwardly away from each other such that said plates form an included angle therebetween and do not extend beyond said ball hitch. 
     
     
       3. The hitching apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said mounting means includes means for locating, said locating means for preventing rotation of the mounting means on the gooseneck. 
     
     
       4. The hitching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said guide portions form an included angle of approximately 90°. 
     
     
       5. The hitching apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said base portion is adapted to be a substantially permanent installation on the gooseneck. 
     
     
       6. A hitching apparatus for mounting onto a gooseneck of a conventional vehicle ball hitch assembly that is symmetrically mounted to a rear of a vehicle about a vehicle centerline, said vehicle ball hitch assembly of the type including a hitch ball having a threaded mounting stud that is threadingly received in said gooseneck, and a towing hitch that impinges upon said hitch ball, comprising: a removable mounting means for attaching said apparatus to an underneath side of the gooseneck of the ball hitch assembly, said mounting means comprised of a base plate portion and a mounting socket integrally interconnected together through a pair of spaced struts, said base plate portion including an aperture for receiving said mounting stud to secure said mounting means to said underneath side of said gooseneck, each of said struts having an upper end connected to said mounting socket and a lower end connected to said base portion, said mounting socket located between said hitch ball and said vehicle when said mounting means is secured to said vehicle, said mounting socket including a transversely extending slot respective of said vehicle centerline, for removably receiving said stop portion tongue therein, said struts receiving said gooseneck therebetween when said mounting means is attached to said ball hitch assembly, said struts preventing said mounting means from rotational movement about said ball hitch assembly centerline;   a removable means for guiding comprised of a pair of divergent guide portions symmetrically disposed about the hitch centerline and adapted to urge the towing hitch towards the hitch ball, said guiding means further including a stop portion attached to and truncating said guide portions, said stop portion cooperating with said guide portions to locate said towing hitch substantially over said hitch ball, said stop portion including a downwardly depending tongue.